JPH05161705A - Aroma generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To invariably attain the desired aromatic environment by providing an aroma generating device capable of controlling a very small discharge of an aroma at about the threshold value that a person faintly senses a scent when the aroma is required, capable of stably generating the aroma with no aging change of scent, and having high reliability at a low cost. CONSTITUTION:An aroma generating device is constituted of an aroma storage container 2, a pressure chamber 9, a feed passage 10 feeding an aroma 8 in the aroma storage container 2 to the pressure chamber 9, a nozzle 4 formed at the bottom section of the pressure chamber 9 and applied with an oil-repellent film 13 on the surface, and a piezoelectrically driven pressure oscillatory wave generating means provided at the top section of the pressure chamber 9 faced to the nozzle 7 and generating quick pressure oscillatory waves on the aroma fed to the pressure chamber 9. The nozzle 7, pressure chamber 9, and pressure oscillatory wave generating means are arranged at locations lower than the aroma liquid level 18 in the aroma storage container 2, and a small droplet of the aroma 8 is discharged/stopped from the nozzle 7 in response to the electric signal 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes it possible to control the discharge of a liquid perfume into fine particles and spray it in a very small amount, which is about the human threshold value, and to create a comfortable scent atmosphere close to nature in a living space. The present invention relates to a scent generating device that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional scent-generating means, a fragrance having a desktop-type masking effect is well known, and all of these utilize natural evaporation of fragrance.

Further, as a method of ejecting a minute amount of droplets, there is a piezo driven ink liquid ejecting device used in a drop-on-demand type ink jet head and the like. This method will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, in an example of a piezo drive type ink droplet ejection head 101, when an electric signal 3 is input to both sides of a piezo plate 12 adhered to a vibration plate 11, the piezo plate 1
2 and the vibrating plate 11 are displaced, a rapid pressure rise occurs in the ink 31 in the pressure chamber 9, and a minute ink droplet is ejected from the ejection nozzle 4 provided in a part of the pressure chamber 9. The ink is supplied to the pressure chamber of the piezo driven ink droplet ejecting device by using a pump 32 or the like to forcibly supply the liquid.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional fragrances only control the intensity of the scent depending on the open / closed state of the opening for generating the scent. Therefore, the scent of the fragrance becomes too strong and is not an aroma. It may have a bad odor, and since it uses natural evaporation of fragrance to generate odor, it evaporates from low-boiling components, and only high-boiling components remain over time. It has a problem that it changes from the beginning. In addition, when a conventional ink droplet ejection head using a piezo vibrator is used as a scent generator, using a pump to supply the fragrance into the pressure chamber will increase the size of the device and complicate the mechanism, resulting in cost reduction. It causes up. Further, since the pressure is rapidly increased in the pressure chamber to eject the liquid droplets, when air bubbles are mixed in the pressure chamber, pressure bubbles are generated in the air bubbles, so that the fragrance is not ejected. In such a case, if the liquid is ink, it is possible to forcibly discharge bubbles together with the ink from the ejection nozzle, but in the case of a fragrance, the scent leaks out from the discharged fragrance and is intended. There is a problem that it disturbs the scent environment.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention controls the scent with an extremely small amount such as a threshold value that a person feels faintly when necessary, and further, stabilizes the scent without any change with time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-priced, highly reliable and compact scent generation device that can be generated by the following methods.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the fragrance generating device of the present invention comprises a fragrance storage container, a pressure chamber, and a supply passage for supplying the fragrance of the fragrance storage container to the pressure chamber. At the discharge nozzle formed on the bottom of the pressure chamber, the surface of which is coated with an oil repellent substance, and at the top of the pressure chamber facing the discharge nozzle, a rapid pressure vibration wave is generated in the perfume supplied to the pressure chamber. Comprising a piezo drive type pressure vibration wave generating means to, and the discharge nozzle, the pressure chamber, and the pressure vibration wave generating means is arranged at a position lower than the liquid level of the perfume in the perfume storage container, The problem is solved by discharging / stopping minute liquid droplets of the liquid fragrance from the discharge nozzle according to an electric signal.

[0008]

The operation of the above construction is as follows.

According to the present invention, a pressure chamber is provided at a position lower than the surface of the perfume liquid in the perfume storage container, a nozzle is provided at the bottom of the pressure chamber, and a piezo-vibrator, which is a pressure vibration wave generating means, faces the discharge nozzle. By adopting the structure provided on the top surface,
Since the resonance wave of the liquid perfume that has received the pressure vibration wave from the piezoelectric vibrator is linearly transmitted to the discharge nozzle, the perfume can be sprayed from the tip of the nozzle. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the pressure in the pressure chamber such as the ink droplet ejection head, and it is not necessary to forcibly supply the fragrance, so that the inlet for supplying the fragrance to the pressure chamber is opened. And there is no need to provide complicated bubble removing means.

Further, by coating the opening surface of the nozzle with a fluorine-based oil-repellent substance, the contact angle of the oil-repellent film with respect to the fragrance causes the fragrance to form a convex meniscus in the nozzle portion without flowing out from the nozzle. Stable state is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the scent from leaking or being wasted due to the liquid dripping from the nozzle.

Further, in the discharge of the fragrance, a minute amount of spray can be controlled by controlling the driving voltage, the driving frequency and the driving time of the electric signal inputted to the piezoelectric vibrator which is the pressure vibration wave generating means.

With the above-described structure, a scent generating device having high discharge efficiency and excellent reliability can be realized, and an inexpensive device can produce a scent space suitable for each person.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scent generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cassette type scent generator, 2 is a fragrance storage container, 3 is an electric signal, 4 is a body part, 5 is a holder, 6 is a lead electrode PC plate, 11 is a diaphragm, 12 is a piezo plate, 16 Is a lead wire, and 17 is a connector.

The fragrance generating device 1 is generally composed of a fragrance container 2 for containing a fragrance, and a body portion 4 having a vibration wave 11 for giving a sharp pressure vibration wave to the fragrance in response to an electric signal 3 and a piezo plate 12. ing. Each of the detachable cassette type scent generators 1 stores fragrances in a holder 5 which is also provided in a part of a scent generator or an air conditioner having a blower circuit (not shown) and which also serves as a contact for taking out lead electrodes. The container 2 is pressed and fixed. In addition, the lead wire 1 pulled out from the piezoelectric electrode surface by bonding or the like.
A connector 17 is connected to a contact pin 6 provided on the lead electrode PC plate 6.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the scent generating device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 7 is a nozzle, 8 is a fragrance, 9 is a pressure chamber, 10 is a supply passage, 13 is an oil-repellent film,
14 is a lid, 15 is a ventilation hole, and 18 is a liquid surface.

The fragrance storage container 2 stores the fragrance 8 mixed with, for example, the scent of fruits or flowers, and the fragrance storage container 2 ejects minute droplets of the fragrance 8 according to the electric signal 3. A metal body portion 4 which is an engine portion to be joined is joined. A rectangular parallelepiped pressure chamber 9 is formed in the body portion 4, and the pressure chamber 9 extends from the bottom of the perfume supply container 2 to the perfume 8.
Are communicated with each other via a supply passage 10.

A nozzle 7 for ejecting minute droplets of the fragrance 8 is provided at the bottom of the pressure chamber 9, and a metallic vibrating plate 11 is provided on the upper surface of the pressure chamber 9 facing the nozzle 7. The piezo plate 12 is joined to the outer surface of the diaphragm. Further, an oil-repellent film 13 made of a fluorine-based oil-repellent substance or a monomolecular film is formed on the outer surface of the nozzle 7. A lid 14 is attached to the top of the fragrance storage container 2,
A small vent hole 15 that is in constant communication with the outside air is provided in a part of the lid 14.
Is provided.

The operation of the scent generating device 1 is as follows: the scent generating device 1 has a holder 5 and a lead electrode PC provided in a scent generator or an air conditioner having a blower circuit (not shown).
When set between the plates 6, since the position of the nozzle 7 is lower than the liquid surface 18, a positive static pressure P acts on the opening of the nozzle 7, but the oil repellent film 13 is applied to the surface of the nozzle 7. ,
Even if the fragrance has a surface tension of about 25 dyne / cm, liquid does not drip from the nozzle 7 and a convex meniscus is formed at the opening of the nozzle 7 to maintain a stable state. For example, the radius r of the nozzle 7 is 0.025 mm, the surface tension γ of the fragrance is 25 dyne / cm, the density ρ of the liquid is 0.9 g / cm ² ,
Gravity acceleration g is 980 cm / sec ² , contact angle θ is 6
When the angle is 0 °, the meniscus holding pressure P is 170 mmAq or more from P = (2 · γ) / (r · ρ · g · sin θ). That is, 170 mmAq
The following static pressure means that no liquid drips from the nozzle 7.

In such a state, the electric signal 3 is output by the drive control circuit via a remote controller (not shown).
When a voltage is applied to the electrodes on both sides of the holder 5 and the piezoelectric plate 12, the pressure chamber 9 is vibrated by the vibration of the piezoelectric plate 12 and the vibrating plate 11.
A sudden pressure vibration wave is generated in the fragrance 8 inside, and the resonance wave causes the nozzle 7 to eject fine droplets corresponding to the electric signal 3 into the air and evaporate in the air as it is, or a liquid not shown After adhering to a drip pan or heating plate, it evaporates and produces a scent. A small ventilation hole 15 opened in a part of the lid 14.
Is to minimize the leakage of the scent at the time of rest, and to keep the volume change due to the consumption of the fragrance 8 and the pressure change due to the temperature and atmospheric pressure only at the static pressure of the fragrance 8.

Although the configuration, operation and action of the scent-generating device of the present invention have been described above, the constituent materials of the scent-generating device include metal, glass, ceramics and the like, as well as transparent or translucent plastic materials. By using, there is an advantage that the remaining amount of the fragrance can be visually confirmed, and the cost can be reduced by the molding die. In addition, since this scent generator is a droplet spray type, it has the advantage that the scent components do not change from the beginning to the end, and since it is a cassette type, it is possible to select a scent that suits each person's taste by arranging many types of fragrances. Is possible.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the nozzle provided with the oil repellent coating is provided at a position lower than the liquid surface position in the perfume storage container, and the pressure vibration wave generating means is provided at a position facing the nozzle. With this structure, the static pressure of the liquid acting on the nozzle can be kept constant, discharge is stabilized, and the fragrance is discharged by directly utilizing the resonance wave of the pressure vibration wave. Further, with the above structure, the fragrance can be supplied without bubbles remaining in the pressure chamber, so that it is possible to provide a stable and highly reliable piezo-driven scent generator. And by installing it in an air conditioner for automobiles and general households and a single type of scent generator that has a ventilation circuit, you can create a scent space that suits each person's home or office room at a reasonable price. It is possible to direct, it is possible to stabilize the mind and change the mood, and it can be expected to have the effect of improving work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scent generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a scent generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional piezo drive type inkjet head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scent Generating Device 2 Perfume Storage Container 3 Electric Signal 4 Body Part 5 Holder 6 Lead Electrode PC Plate 7 Nozzle 8 Perfume 9 Pressure Chamber 10 Supply Passage 11 Vibration Plate 12 Piezo Plate 13 Oil Repellent Film 14 Lid 15 Vent 16 Lead Wire 17 Connector 18 Liquid level

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fragrance storage container, a pressure chamber, a supply passage for supplying the fragrance in the fragrance storage container to the pressure chamber, and a surface formed with an oil-repellent substance film on the bottom of the pressure chamber. The discharge nozzle, and a pressure vibration wave generating means for generating a rapid pressure vibration wave in the perfume supplied to the pressure chamber, in the upper part of the pressure chamber facing the discharge nozzle, and from the discharge nozzle according to an electric signal. An integrated perfume generating device for ejecting / stopping fine droplets of the liquid perfume, wherein the ejection nozzle, the pressure chamber, and the pressure vibration wave generating means are the liquid level of the perfume in the perfume storage container. A scent generator that is always in a lower position than.